Apatou

Apatou is a commune in French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. Apatou is home to Maroons of different tribes. Apatou contains Aluku, Paramacca, Ndyuka, and Sarmaka people.[2]

Apatou
Commune
Canoe taxis at Apatou
Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana
Location of Apatou
Coordinates: 5°09′12″N 54°20′10″W
CountryFrance
Overseas region and departmentFrench Guiana
ArrondissementSaint-Laurent-du-Maroni
IntercommunalityOuest Guyanais
Government
 • Mayor (2014-2020) Paul Dolianki
Area
1
2,020 km2 (780 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
9,241
 • Density4.6/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−03:00
INSEE/Postal code
97360 /97317
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

The town of Apatou was founded in 1812 as Moutende. It was renamed after Captain Apatou of the Alukus.[2] In the late 19th century, Aluku was a guide for the explorer Jules Crevaux. In 1898 Apatou mediated between France and the Colony of Suriname with regards to the border, and allied the Aluku with France.[3] He also united all the different tribes on the French side.[2]

Apatou was up to 1969 part of the Inini territory which allowed for an autonomous and self sufficient tribal system for the Maroons without clear borders.[4] Along with the commune, came a government structure, and francisation. Most importantly, it led to the concentration in bigger villages and the near abandonment of smaller settlements.[4]

The commune of Apatou was created on 12 November 1976 by detaching its territory from the commune of Grand-Santi-Papaichton (since then renamed Grand-Santi).[2]

Transport
Apatou, 2004

The villages in the commune could only to be reached by boat from the Maroni River.[2] In 2010, Route Nationale opened connecting Apatou with Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and the road network of French Guiana. The road was opened with the Tour of Guiana.[5] The road is scheduled to be extended to Maripasoula. Construction work on the section to Papaïchton is planned to commence in 2021.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. "Guide Apatou". Petit Futé (in French). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, vol 78 issue 3-4 (1 January 2004). "The explorer as hero: 'Le Fidèle Apatou' in the French wilderness". Brill. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. "The Aluku and the Communes in French Guiana". Cultural Survival. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  5. "La route d'Apatou raccommodée". Guyane la Première (in French). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. "Route Maripasoula-Papaichton : 1 million d'euros par kilomètre". France Guyane (in French). Retrieved 10 August 2020.


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